Here Lies Vera

Jake Speed -

Notes: This song pays tribute to Ms. Vera Smith who, after surviving Hurricane Katrina, met a tragic fate as she was killed by a car on her way to the store. The body of this proud woman who walked the streets of the Garden District lay uncovered for days by the curb before her neighbors were able to construct a makeshift tomb. The image of Ms. Vera Smiths grave, with the message spray-painted on her death shroud saying "Here Lies Vera God Help Us," burns in my mind as a symbol of Katrina's infinite tragedy.

Before the storm made the flood waters hit, everybody loved Ms. Vera Smith She walked her dogs down Magazine Street, she danced to the old New Orleans beat Before the storm made the flood waters hit, everybody knew Ms. Vera Smith She was sturdy as a brick, she was proud as a cross, she was sweet as a sheet, she'll be missed, Ms. Vera's gone

Here lies Vera from New Orleans, buried by bricks and a thin white sheet A small wood cross by the cracked sidewalk marks sweet Vera's life, God Help us all

During the storm that shook the coast, Ms. Vera Smith held tight to hope She prayed her way down Magazine Street, she out-weathered the wind on her own two feet During the storm that shook the coast, Ms. Vera Smith stayed at home Broke as a brick, cold as a cross, scared as a sheet, now proud Miss Vera's gone

After the storm that broke the shore, Ms. Vera Smith marched proud once more She danced her way down Magazine Street, shopping for treats for her birthday feast After the storm that broke the shore, Ms. Vera never heard the car's sharp horn Quiet as a brick, calm as a cross, soft as a sheet, God called Miss Vera off

Now a cloud still hangs where the storm once hit, but it rains with hope like Miss Vera Smith It showers the sidewalk on Magazine Street, it pours with the patter of a New Orleans beat Now a cloud still hangs where the storm once hit, it's the cool shade cloud of Ms. Vera Smith It's bold as a brick, it's devout as a cross, it's clean as a sheet, it's the cloud Ms. Vera's on